Rail sanding device



Feb. 28, 1939. c E HAMMER 2,148,745 RAIL SANDING DEVICE I Filed Nov. 24,1937 INVENTOR CHARLES F. HAMMER -BY W M ATT wheels travel.

Patented Feb. 28, I939 PATENT OFFICE RAIL SANDING DEVICE Charles F.Hammer, Greensburg, Pa., assignor to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company,Wilmerding, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 24,1937, Serial No. 176,205

2 Claims.

This invention relates to sanding devices, and more particularly to sanddischarging means for a high speed vehicle which is adapted to depositsand on the rail surface over which the vehicle One object of myinvention is to provide a wind deflecting shield adapted to be mountedon the end of a sanding pipe for ensuring that a maximum amount of thesand discharged from the pipe will be deposited on the rail. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide a shield of the above typeadapted for attachment to the end of a sanding pipe, which shield ismade of a light collapsible material, so that in case the shield shouldaccidentally become detached from the sanding pipe while the vehicle isinmotion the shield would readily pass beneath the vehicle wheelswithout appreciable effect.

A further object of the invention is to provide a streamlined shield forthe end of a sanding pipe,

which shield is constructed of a durable but inexpensive material, suchas wire gauze.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view ofa vehicle carried sand pipe having my invention associated therewith;Fig. 2 is a vertical view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3is an enlarged detail view of the wind deflecting shield and the portionof the sanding pipe to which it is secured.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, a sanding pipe I is provided, whichis adapted to be supplied in the usual manner with sand by operation ofsuitable sanding apparatus, not shown, the lower open end of the sandpipe being disposed directly above the rail 2 in advance of the vehiclewheel 3.

According to the invention there is secured the end of the sand pipe Ia. wind deflecting device or shield 4, which is adapted to prevent sanddischarged from the sand pipe I from being blown 0 out of the path ofthe wheel by the turbulent air currents usually set up while the vehicleis traveling at high speed. As is best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing,the shield is made of a light collapsible material, such a wire gauze orfine mesh wire screen, and is constructed substantially in the form of apyramid, the somewhat rounded apex of which is pointed in the directionof travel of the vehicle, and the inclined base of which is open forproviding a quadrilateral openingdisposed adjacent the rim of the wheelsomewhat in advance of the point of the engagement of the wheel with thetrack, as is best shown in' Fig. 1. The sides of the shield may besecured together in any suitable manner, such as by means of soldering.

For'securing the-wind deflecting shield to the end of the sand pipe,there is provided a clamping means which comprises a suitably formedplate portion I which is soldered to the upper surface of the shield 4,and an inclined sleeve portion 8, which is adapted to surround the sandpipe I as 5 shown in the drawing. If desired, a suitable slit such as IImay be provided in the sleeve portion for enabling it to be readilyfitted into place on the sanding pipe. An annular clamping member 9 isdisposed around the sleeve member 8 for clamping 10 the sleeve membertightly against the sand pipe I, the adjacent ends of the clampingmember 9 being drawn together by means of a bolt I0.

Assuming that the vehicle is traveling toward the left-hand, as viewedin Fig. 1 of the drawing, 15 if sand is supplied in the usual manner tothe sand pipe I, the sand will be permitted to flow from the open end ofthe sand pipe without being subjected to the turbulent air currentsusually 1 present in the region of the vehicle wheel, so that 20substantially all of the sand is deposited on the rail 2, due to thefunctioning of the pyramidal shield 4 for forcing the air currents awayfrom the path of the sand falling from the sand pipe I toward the rail.It should be understood that the 25 wire gauze of which the shield isconstructed is of such a fineness that, while of course some air mayflow through it, a violent current of air will be largely broken up ordeflected when impinged against the shield. 30

It will be apparent that, if due to an accident the wind deflectingshield should become dislodged from the sand pipe I and fall to the rail2 while the vehicle is moving, the-vehicle wheel 3 would pass over theshield without damage or 35 danger of being derailed, since the finemesh wire gauze of which the shield is made is adapted to be readilycrushed and flattened under the weight of the vehicle.

Although I have described one illustrative em- 40 bodiment of theinvention in detail, it is not my Intention to limit its scope to thatembodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I 45 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A wind deflecting shield for protecting the discharge orifice of avehicle carried sand pipe, comprising a hollow body portion ofrelatively, light gauge wire gauze made substantially pyramidal in formand having a single aperture formed in the end thereof opposite the apexof said body portion, said shield being adapted on the one hand to breakup and. deflect air currents approaching 66 said end of the pipe, and onthe other hand to yield or collapse without appreciable resistance ifaccidentally overridden by the wheel of the vehicle.

2. A protective shield adapted to be secured to the discharge end of avehicle carried sand pipe comprising a clamping element having anaperture for receiving said end of the pipe, and a hollow body securedto said clamping element having 10 a closed leading portion and anoutwardly flared trailing portion provided with an opening through whichsand discharged from said sand pipe may flow, said body beingconstructed of light foraminated material having sufiicient strength onthe one hand to break up and deflect air currents approaching said endof the sand pipe, and being flexible on the other hand so as to yield orcollapse without appreciable resistance if accidentally overridden bythe wheel of the vehicle.

CHARLES F. HAMMER.

